Latest news with #BlackpoolPleasureBeach
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Top UK theme park scraps much-loved free entry policy for new £25 tickets and visitors are furious
BLACKPOOL Pleasure Beach has scrapped free-entry and has added a £25 fee for non-riders. The seaside theme park had been free to enter for years, so the addition of new ticket prices hasn't been well received by visitors. 5 5 Blackpool Pleasure Beach had been known for its free entry, with people previously just having to pay for the rides they went on. Charges per ride would be between £2 and around £10 per ride. Now, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has updated its ticket prices and added a fee for general admission. An adult ticket on the day is now £50, or £30 online if paid in advance. But it's the fixed fee for anyone not planning to go on rides that has received the most backlash. The new non-rider ticket of £25 has been designed to offer guests greater 'flexibility when planning their day out.' Included in the price is £5 worth of 'Pleasure Beach Pounds' to put towards food, discounted show tickets and attractions like the Chinese Puzzle Maze. But it still hasn't sat well with visitors, one wrote on Facebook: "Wow £25 to walk around only, I'll stick to the pier thanks." Another added: "Overpriced, £10 per non rider would have got far more people through the gates." Some even went as far as to call it a "con" and called the whole thing "daylight robbery". 5 This isn't the first time the seaside theme park has introduced non-rider fees. In 2010, Blackpool Pleasure Beach introduced £5 and £10 non-rider passes, but these were axed in 2019, allowing guests to enter Blackpool Pleasure Beach for free again, until now. While regular theme park goers have been left unhappy by the fees, others have said the same. The likes of Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures, Drayton Manor and Flamingo Land all have general admission fees for all. These range from £27.50-£68 - all of which are more expensive than Blackpool Pleasure Beach's non-rider fee. The only theme park in the UK that still has a different fee for non-riders is Paultons Park. The amusement park located in the New Forest National Park has a £45 fee for adults going on rides, but is free for children and non-riders. Our Expert Opinion On The Ticket Changes Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot gives her verdict on the new Blackpool Pleasure Beach fees... Times have never been more challenging for our classic seaside resorts. The cost of living crisis continues to impact spending power and the lure of cheap trips abroad can turn the head of even the most ardent fan. So it's no surprise that Blackpool Pleasure Resort has had to introduce a new entrance fee. Just two months ago, the attraction announced pre-tax losses of more than £2.7million and announced the closure of some of its smaller rides as well as a small number of job losses. Like many businesses, it has been hit with a double whammy of national insurance and minimum wage increases following last year's Budget. If we want Blackpool Pleasure Resort - and the city in general - to survive and thrive, then measures like the new entry ticket are essential. The resort is investing in new thrill rides and this new fee will help bosses invest in more. It's also worth noting you get a fair amount of extras in your ticket - from £5 to spend on food to character meet-and-greets, discounted show tickets and access to all the non-ride attractions plus, across the summer, a free matinee performance of the Hot Ice Show. If theme park fans are happy to pay even greater sums to enter the likes of Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, surely the chance to enjoy all the fun of Blackpool Pleasure Resort is worth the money? 5 Blackpool Pleasure Beach is home to 10 rollercoasters, five 'dark' (indoor) rides, five water rides and 12 Nickelodeon-themed rides. The attraction also has a number of shows and events throughout the year, including late night riding and fireworks. It first opened in 1896, and is still popular today. It was recently named as the number one destination to take kids to during the summer holidays, based on its reviews. The seaside park is still being upgrade too and in 2025, introduced a new ride called the Launch Pad, which reaches speeds of 80mph and sends riders 210ft into the air on a towering steel structure. One Sun Travel writer attended the literal 'launch' of the ride and gave us his verdict. And Blackpool is planning to revamp its major tourist attraction, Winter Gardens. 5
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Popular theme park blasted for 'absolute robbery' non-rider fee
One of the UK's most iconic amusement parks has sparked fierce backlash after introducing a 'rip-off' ticket price for non-riders. Blackpool Pleasure Beach now charges all guests an entry fee - regardless of whether they plan to ride. Up until 2009, the popular seaside attraction allowed visitors to roam the site freely, ideal for anyone who preferred not to take on the rides to still accompany friends and family. A £10 non-rider charge was briefly introduced, before being scrapped in 2019 in line with the wider theme park industry. Since then, the park has charged a flat entry price, currently £50 on the day or £30 if booked two weeks in advance for adults and children over 11, while prices for children aged 11 and under are set at £45 and £30 respectively. The standard fee ticket brought an end to large groups hanging around at the site, which had amassed a series of complaints from paying visitors. Now, park bosses say they've 'listened to guest feedback' and responded by introducing the £25 non-rider ticket. While it doesn't allow access to the rides, it does include several add-ons, such as a £5 voucher for food and drink and entry to the Hot Ice matinee show during summer. It also grants visitors unlimited access to the Pleasure Beach Express railway, the Chinese Puzzle Maze, and Bradley and Bella's Learning Garden, as well as opportunities to meet popular costumed characters, such as the PAW Patrol pups. Despite the extras, hundreds of furious fans took to the popular Facebook page, Welcome to Blackpoo l, to condemn the 'disgraceful' pricing, while others declared it discriminatory to the elderly and people with disabilities. One person wrote, 'Ridiculous £25 to walk around and trying to sell it with £5 credit which will be lucky to buy you a slush, and ticket to hot ice that quite frankly most wouldn't want anyway, £5 to walk around is quite enough. Another said: 'Hate it when they state "we've listened carefully to Park goers" what a load of codswallop. Who in the right mind are these people that state £25 is a fantastic incentive just to walk around holding coats?' A third commented, 'Day light robbery. Disgraceful,' while a third fumed, 'It's a RIP OFF.' A fourth said, 'Bosses never listen. Needs to be free to walk of the pleasure beach,' while another added, 'Completely missed the mark with this. They had a chance to make it right and completely screwed it up. Well done.' Another added: 'So discriminating against someone like me in a powerchair and no way on earth could get on the rides. So I pay £25 for the privilege of been disabled. You need to rethink your policy.' However, others were supportive of the new fee, as one wrote: 'I'm in the minority but if they don't charge something anyone and everyone is free to roam around the park, unfortunately they will use and abuse it.' Fans took to the Facebook page, Welcome to Blackpool, to condemn the 'disgraceful' pricing, while others declared it discriminatory to the elderly and people with disabilities 'I know I felt a little safer inside with my kids... maybe they need to tweak this like maybe grandparents get in free with paying children etc but I'm just trying to see why they do it from a different viewpoint.' Announcing the new prices last week, Amanda Thompson, CEO of Pleasure Beach, defended the decision, saying: 'This year we've placed a strong focus on making visits more affordable for families, without compromising the guest experience. 'We believe we have done this in ways that allow us to continue to thrive - not only as an important destination in Blackpool, but as an employer of hundreds of local people. 'We've listened carefully to our guests, and it's clear that flexibility and choice are more important than ever. That's why we've made the decision to launch our non rider eTickets with more added benefits – a move that sets us apart in the industry.'
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I was one of the first to try the revamped ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach – with new 80mph launch
IT'S launch day, but this isn't my first rodeo on Blackpool Pleasure Beach's 'new' shot tower ride, Launch Pad. Known as Ice Blast until 2023 and PlayStation: The Ride before that, anyone familiar with Blackpool will know this vertical steel giant well. 7 7 7 It's one of the park's classic thrill rides, and it's been flinging riders to jaw-dropping heights since 1997. But after one year off, it's back, having had a huge makeover that's aims to get your stomach churning like never before. Lucky for me - I was one of the first to give it a spin ahead of its public opening this week. Besides an updated name, theme and fresh blue and red paint job, the daunting 210-foot structure has been overhauled with a brand-new launch cylinder to give it an extra kick. Blackpool Pleasure Beach claims this 'reimagined' ride now serves a punchier, more intimidating experience as it hurls you 20 storeys skywards. And I have to say, after multiple rides at its official press launch, I can't argue with that. With a rocket-like blast off that catapults you vertically at speeds of up to 80mph in mere seconds before a sudden, stomach-lurching plunge back to earth, I can confirm that the experience is better than ever. Launch Pad isn't the first time Blackpool has updated an old ride to offer visitors a new experience. The park's legendary water ride, Valhalla, received a £4million re-imagining in 2023, and Pleasure Beach announced at its 2025 season launch that fan-favourite River Caves will also be getting a revamp later this year. The park's bosses say overhauling existing rides isn't just about a new name and a fresh paint job. Reusing Launch Pad's structure also means less waste - something the park's CEO, Amanda Thompson, said is better for the planet, right before cutting the ribbon. Seaside theme park gets reimagined ride She added that this is something Pleasure Beach is focusing on more and more - giving old favourites a new lease of life. And that's what they did with Launch Pad. Instead of scrapping a classic, they gave the ride a proper upgrade that feels familiar, but hits different. Launch Pad is open now - and if you've ridden it before, don't expect the same experience. This is faster, louder, and more intense. After Blackpool Pleasure Beach CEO, Amanda Thompson, cut the ribbon and announced Launch Pad as officially open, we were let loose inside the ride area, which has a cool new 'space exploration' theme. Added oomph Alongside the galactic soundtrack, there's updated seats and restraints, and a themed launch sequence, which counts you down to take-off - alongside theatrical smoke - just like you're blasting off into the stars. However, the biggest update to Launch Pad is an upgraded pneumatic cylinder, now operating at a whopping 105 pounds per square inch (PSI). I'm told that this boost in pressure means a much faster ascent, with riders fired upwards with more force. And you really feel it. The increase in kinetic energy is what makes the launch feel completely different. Comparing it to previous years, it now feels sharper and way more aggressive - from the g-force that pushes you down into your seat at lift off, to the floaty weightlessness you feel when you hit the top. 7 7 And no matter how many times you ride it, it doesn't lose its edge. Sure, your stomach is left on the floor, but before long, you're rewarded with epic views across the whole of Blackpool, its beaches and beyond. Blackpool Pleasure Beach recently reopened for the season, including welcoming visitors to the Nickelodeon Land area of the park for the first time in over 10-years. In addition, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been crowned as the best family-owned theme park in the country. The amusement park first opened in 1896 and has been kept in the same family since. Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort prices start from £28 for kids and £30 for adults. A mum recently revealed how she pays just £10pp on theme park days out for a family-of-five. Plus, the major UK theme park to get huge new land by 2027 with rollercoasters, kids rides and indoor attractions. 7 7
The Independent
25-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Blackpool Pleasure Beach closes five rides after cost of living hits profits
A popular coastal theme park has reported a £2.7m pre-tax financial loss over the past year, prompting the closure of some smaller rides to make way for brand-new attractions. Entering its 128th year, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has announced that many of its rides will be getting a 'reimagining', such as a makeover or upgrade to keep the rides fresh for its visitors, as well as a brand new pendulum attraction announcement slated to break records. However, the park has reported this is coming off the back of a financial loss, citing the cost-of-living crisis and weather events as the reason. In the park's latest financial accounts, covering a year up to 24 March 2024, there was a loss before tax of £2.7m. The report said that 'trading in the current year has been extremely difficult due to many external factors beyond our control'. It notes the ongoing cost of living crisis is 'depressing non-essential spend', as well as weather remaining a key factor in terms of overall turnover and attendance. A statement in the report said: 'The company has instigated a headcount review and a review of the assets on park. 'As a result, a number of rides will be closed for the forthcoming season. 'We are also looking at how we profile the opening and closing times of both individual rides and the park itself with a view to maximising efficiency (and therefore cost) whilst balancing it with achieving great customer satisfaction.' Opening times for this year will actually be greater than in 2024, adding an extra 68 hours to its total operational hours across 2025. However, changes have been made in the implementation of staggered ride openings, a common industry practice, meaning some rides may open slightly later, usually by periods of 30 minutes. In February, Pleasure Beach said that it had made the decision to close some of its smaller, less popular rides for the 2025 season. These include the Eddie Stobart Convoy, Alpine Rallye, Thompson Carousel, Gallopers and Red Arrows Skyforce. 'The smaller rides were already being run on reduced opening times and our rider data showed that they have some of our lowest throughput, while Skyforce is 10 years old this year,' the park wrote. 'After a great deal of thought, it was clear to us that the right decision is to make changes which will allow us to reinvest into a bigger and better future. 'We announced last year that we are focused on our evolution,' it added. 'That means constantly moving forward, reviewing our offering, and reinvesting – all while holding onto the things that make us special, and we can't wait to show you how some of that evolution will look.' In the report, the company said it will continue to improve its visitor's experience by investing in new attractions and other customer-focused improvements. As part of this, Pleasure Beach has recently announced the launch of a brand new £8.72m ride, which will be the biggest of its kind in the UK. The new giant swinging pendulum, double the size of other similar gyro swings, will be added to the park in 2026, spinning and spinning riders as they reach high points of up to 138 feet. Other existing rides are also getting updates, such as its Ice Blast ride, which will be reintroduced as 'Launch Pad' this spring. Additionally, new scenes from the latest Wallace & Gromit instalment, Vengeance Most Fowl, will be added to its Thrill-O-Matic ride. It also announced that its River Caves ride, a family favourite since 1905, will be the next attraction to receive a refresh. A spokesperson from Pleasure Beach Resort told The Independent: 'It has been a challenging few years of trading across the entire industry, and we have undertaken the necessary actions to continue to offer the same amazing experiences to our guests. They added that there are 'currently no plans to close any further rides'.
BBC News
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Behind the scenes at the Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort
It may be closed down for the winter, but behind the gates of Blackpool's Pleasure Beach, there's a hive of Beach Resort, formerly known as Blackpool Pleasure Beach, opened to the public on 23 August by A.W.G. Bean, and his partner John Outhwaite in 1896, the Lancashire attraction houses some of the oldest rides in the workers today are still partaking in trades that existed all those years ago, paying homage to the heritage and historical craftmanship. Pleasure Beach Resort is home to one of the oldest collections of wooden rollercoasters in the world - the Big Dipper, Blue Flyer, Grand National and Nickelodeon Big Dipper is the second oldest rollercoaster still in use in Great Britain. For the fairground to keep its host of records alive, hundreds of staff repair, rebuild and refresh the rides each year, ensuring they are safe and still enjoyed for the new season ahead. Adam Slevin, director of creative design experience at Pleasure Beach Resort, said: "I don't think people know just how much work goes in to keeping the park running."The Big One really is a ride of legends and we have to give it a lot of 'TLC' so it's really lovely when we get the trains looking pristine, sharp and bright but we can't wait to get them back on the ride, and hear the rides going round again ready for our guests". When it opened in 1994, the Big One was the tallest and steepest roller coaster in the world. With a top speed of 74mph (119km), the ride holds the record as the second tallest roller coaster in the UK, standing at 213ft (65m). As the resort prepares to open for its 129th season, staff are working hard to get the attraction ready, and some of the trades, like repairing fibreglass, tuning an organ and hand-painting signs, are standing the test of time. Andrew Milner, from St Annes, was an apprentice at Pleasure Beach in the 1970s and never left. He has worked at the resort for 23 years and most, if not all, of the colourful ride and attraction signs around the resort have been worked on by his own said: "I've done it all my life, it's all I've ever done."When you're doing stuff like this you just go into your own little space and you just shut down and concentrate on what you're doing." From fibreglass remodelling, to repairing bolts or carefully restoring ride models, Robert Lowe has done it all in his 30 years at the theme Lowe, an artist and model maker from Blackpool, said he enjoyed the "creative freedom" the job gave him."I enjoy the creative process of making things, using my imagination, learning new things," he added. "I'm still learning new skills because it is so diverse I could be doing anything. Every day is different."Despite working on the rides for three decades you will not catch him on any."I don't like rides, they scare me." The resort is also welcoming a new generation into its mix. Laura Johnston is getting started in her role as a mechanical engineering apprentice. She said: "I've always loved engineering as a kid and I love rollercoasters and I thought to combine the passion because why not?"When I first told my friends what I had planned to do they all just kind of looked at me like 'what are you doing with your life?' Now everyone looks at you like 'wow that is a very cool job'." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
